Bonnet, escutcheon and sleeve construction



July 10, 1962 s. A. YOUNG 3,043,330

BONNET, ESCUTCHEON AND SLEEVE CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1959 //I/ E 275:1, K i 2 m l I ,m II III ,IIIIIIIIIIII I JIIIIIIIIII I luM IN VENTOR.

y 67,4. mum-7 United States arent Offi 3,043,330 BONNET, ESQUTCHEON ANDSLEEVE CONSTRUCTION Stephen A. Young, RR. 5, Monticello, Ind. Filed Apr.9, 1959, Ser. No. 805,317 4 Claims. (Cl. 137-359) This invention relatesto plumbing fixtures, and primarily to such fixtures which are morecommonly designated concealed or built-in fixtures or fittings.

In the art to which this invention is directed, the usual plumbingfixture which controls the flow of water to a tub or shower as the casemay be, as an example of the particular application hereof, is usuallybuilt into the wall, and thus largely concealed as to the body thereof,only the operating parts being accessible and normally noticeable undermost conditions.

With the necessity and desire on the part of the public to have built inplumbing fixtures, of the class herein described, the plumber ofnecessity must set the fitting or fixture within the Wall at a properdepth so to speak, permitting the operating portions of the fitting orfixture to extend from the wall so that when the wall is finished as byplastering or other covering, the operating parts are accessible to havethe necessary handles applied thereto.

As a consequence of necessity to set the fixtures or fittings as stated,under many conditions the thickness of the wall surface may varysubstantially, and even under some conditions the plumber may happen toset the fixture at the wrong depth within the wall so that when the wallis finished, a substantial variation in trim to be applied thereto isrequired, as to the location of the trim with respect to the body.

Heretofore in the art, no really satisfactory arrangement has beenprovided, so as to effect adjustment over a very wide range, suchadjustment usually being only on the order of one or one and a halfinches, whereas the necessity for such adjustment may often arise thatwill require adjustment of up to three inches.

Another diificulty with current and known construction, is the fact thatthe stem which extends from a fixture of the class herein underconsideration, is exposed, and necessitates that the stem be providedwith a suitable finish, involving handling a part of which only a smallportion shows and consequently substantially wasteful processing is theresult.

In order to overcome all of the objectionsheretofore known, the presentinvention makes provision for adjustment of finished trim on a concealedfixture within a very wide range, even of the order of three to fourinches if desired, and at the same time fits in with the desirableappearance which is demanded by the public and is pleasing as well asharmonious when taken in conjunction with the balance of the fitting orfixture as the case may be.

With the purpose of providing for these various attributes that areknown to be desirable, the present invention contemplates the provisionof a sleeve which surrounds and conceals a substantial portion of thefitting or' fixture which would extend from the wall or which might evenbe concealed within a wall, which sleeve likewise assists in concealingthe stem, and in cooperation with a suitable handle pleasingly concealsthe stem and bonnet usually provided in such concealed fixtures andthereby makes possible the adjustment of trim on such sleeve so as toprovide a pleasing completely finished or plated appearance and yet makepossible access to operating parts for replacement or repair thereof.

The objects of the invention have been generally suggested heretoforeand may be further stated as comprising the provision of a concealedfixture construction which provides a wide range of adjustment of thetrim thereon,

and cooperates with the handle and stem so as to conceal the latter atthe same time providing a pleasing appearance wherein the various partsare plated or otherwise finished as desired.

A specific object of the invention may be said to reside in theprovision of a novel arrangement for enclosing or concealing a bonnetand large portion of the stem, connecting the concealing means with thefixture body and providing for adjustable escutcheon means to be mountedon such concealing means, the concealing means in turn cooperating witha handle so as to completely conceal and cause a stem to remainconcealed and thus obviate the necessity to plate the latter.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from aconsideration of the specification appended hereto and shown in thedrawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, showing thebonnet, sleeve and escutcheon construction in detail, somewhat enlarged.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken about on the line 2--2 of FIGURE1 looking in the direction of the arrows and somewhat fragmentarylikewise.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken about on the line 33 ofFIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, likewise fragmentary.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing a sleeve holder constructed to beused in this invention.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a sleeve for use in conjunction withthe sleeve holder.

Referring to the drawing, FIGURE l-discloses a portion of a typicaltwo-valve body designated 1, the body including an inlet 2 into a valvesection 3, the body 1 including the outlets such as 4 and 5, the outlet4 usually being connected to a shower supply and the outlet 5 to the tuband particularly to spout leading thereto.

The seat and seat washer construction as well as the thread on the stem,which stem is denoted 6, are not shown in detail since they are commonand form no part of this invention, the threaded portion of the stemextending into a bonnet 7 in accordance with desired practice and thusupon manipulation of the stem 6 in rotating the same as by means of ahandle 8, the stem is caused to move inwardly and outwardly with respectto the bonnet and shut off or regulate the flow of water from the supplyinlet 2 into the valve section 3 and thus to the body 1.

In this particular case, a two-valve unit is referred to and it will beunderstood that at the right hand end of the body 1 of FIGURE 1, asimilar valve section 3 is normally provided.

Referring again to the bonnet 7, it will be seen that the same is asomewhat elongated member extending vertically and having at its lowerend portion a flange 9, below which are suitable threads 10 arranged toengage with corresponding threads 11 formed at the upper end of thevalve section 3. A suitable stufling box nut 12 is usually provided toprevent leakage of the water around the stem 6 at the upper end of thebonnet adjacent the nut section 13 thereof, the stuffing .box nut .12having the threads 14 thereon for adjustable engagement with the bonnet7, all-largely conventional.

The bonnet 7 by means of the flange 9, is caused to engage and positiona sleeve holder 15, shown in perspective in- FIGURE 4 as comprising amounting section 16 and flange portion -17 extending atright angles tothe portion 16, the portion 16 being provided internally with suitablethreads :18 for purposes to be described.

The sleeve holder 15 by means of the flange portion 17 thereof, ispositioned with regard to the valve section 3 and bonnet 7 by engagementof the flange 9 of the bonnet 7 with suitable fiber washer 19 above theflange portion 17 of the sleeve holder 15 and a further fiber washer 20below such flange portion 17, these fiber washers being arranged toprevent leakage when the bonnet 7 is drawn into fully thread engagedposition upon assembly of the valve hereof in the first place. Thesleeve holder 15 will of course thereby be prevented from rotation andfixed relative the body 1 and bonnet 7.

Arranged to engage with the threads 18 of the portion 16 of the sleeveholder 15, is a sleeve 21 having threads 22 at the lower end thereof,FIGURE 1 being referred to here, the sleeve 21 extending upwardly for asubstantial distance so as to completely enclose the bonnet '7 andsubstantially enclose the stem 6, depending upon the length of the saidstem 6. The sleeve 21 will usually be chromium plated so as to present asmooth finished, pleasing appearance, the sleeve terminating at 22within the handle The handle 8 is provided with a skirt 23 thereon whichis integrally formed with the arms 24 of the handle, the arms 24 of thehandle extending from a body section 25,

the body section 25 being provided with a spline portion 26 to engage amating spline portion 27 formed on the stem 6, this being of coursesubstantially conventional and the handle being retained in place on thestem by means of a suitable screw 28. The spline portion26 of the handleextends for some distance downwardly from the body 25 thereof and theskirt and operating arms 24 of the handle are of such a length as tolikewise extend downwardly from such body 25 fora substantial distanceenclosing the upper end 22 of the sleeve 21in a telescopic manner sothat upon manipulation of the handle 8, which results in an inward andoutward movement of the stem 6, the upper end 22 of the sleeve 21 isalways concealed and thus the stem 6 is likewise always concealed.

Since the sleeve 21 may be of any preferred length, depending of courseupon the length of the stem 6 and other parts of the valve body or valve1, including the bonnet 7, such parts may of course be made quite longand thus the position of the valve body 1 within the wall is no longercritical but may vary within considerably disparate limits, since anescutcheon 30 may be provided having a sleeve engaging portion 31 inwhich is positioned a set screw 32 adapted to engage the outer surfaceof the sleeve 21. Thus the escutcheon 39 may be moved into positionagainst any wall surface over a substantial range and the set screwdrawn up against the sleeve 21 to thereby retain the escutcheon 30 inplace and completely conceal any reasonable area around the pontion ofthe wall through which the sleeve and thus the operating parts of thevalve may extend.

The sleeve 21 may be made as an integral part with the sleeve holder 15if desired, although this will necessitate providing a socket wrench ofsome kind for manipulation of the bonnet 7 as to tightening the same orto permit replacement of seat washers or the like in the body and valveportion 3 specifically.

The shape of the handle 3 may vary Within wide limits of course as longas there is some telescopic relationship established between the sleeve,although this need not necessarily be true if the portion 26 of thehandle is of sufiicient length and as long as the stem 6 is largelywithin the sleeve 21.

I claim:

1. In valve construction of the class described, in combination, a body,a stem and bonnet therefor, a sleeve surrounding and concealing saidbonnet, a sleeve holder, said bonnet engaging and positioning theholder, the sleeve engaging said holder, a handle on said stern, andhaving a section enclosing a portion of the sleeve.

2. In a valve construction of the class described, in combination, abody, a stem and bonnet therefor, a sleeve surrounding and concealingsaid bonnet, a sleeve holder, said bonnet engaging and positioning theholder, the sleeve engaging said holder, a handle on said stern having asection enclosing a portion of the sleeve, and an escutcheon adjustablymounted on said sleeve.

3. In a valve construction of the class described, in combination, abody to be concealed in a wall or the like, a stem and bonnet therefor,said stern to extend outwardly of such wall, a sleeve holder having aportion engaged between said body and bonnet for positioning saidholder, a sleeve connected to the holder and concealing said bonnet, ahandle on the stem, and a skirt on said handle arranged totelescopically cooperate with said sleeve whereby to conceal the stemaforesaid and extending therealong.

4. In a valve construction of the class described, in combination, abody to be concealed in a wall or the like, a stem and bonnet therefor,said stem to extend outwardly of such wall, a sleeve holder having aportion engaged between said body and bonnet for positioning saidholder, a sleeve connected to the holder and concealing said bonnet, ahandle on the stem, a skirt on said handle arranged to telescopicallycooperate with said sleeve whereby to conceal and extend along the stemaforesaid and an escutoheon slidably adjustable on the sleeve.

References Cited in the tile of this patent Mia

